Race Reports – Page 8 – Champion Motorsports

CMS Season 5 Round 4 – Nürburgring

Race Report by Mark Dizon November 24, 2020 – Round 4 of Champion Motorsports Season 5 ACC heads to the Nürburgring for 75 minutes of multi-sprint racing. Split 1 Josh Staffin #23 Lexus RC F leads the charge for victory in the GT3 class at the Nürburgring! Staffin also captures the fastest lap of the race with a lap time of 1:54.438. The second-place podium goes to Andreas Maier in the #123 Audi R8 rising up from P4 at the race start. Drake Burgoon displayed a strong drive clinching the third-place finish after starting the race in P10. Josh Staffin and Hamza Gulzar go side by side at race start into Turn 1 and Turn 2. Staffin takes the lead as he navigates the inside line into Turn 3 and makes a good exit out of Turn 4. Hamza Gulzar eventually retires the #14 Bentley after losing control on > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: ACC, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Nurburgring|

Hamza Gulzar wins the First Automobilista 2 Holiday fun Series Race at Imola

Race Report by David Anderson November 21, 2020 -- Champion Motorsports is very excited for that the first time we were able to get on the track in an "official" capacity with the Automobilista 2 title from Reiza Studios. Running a four race holiday 2020 Fun Series, we have some great tracks and cars selected for our first opportunity to use AMS 2. Attendance was solid for the first race, and we learned a lot while also having a good event. The sim has tremendous potential and after overcoming a few quirks that we now know about for future events we were very pleased with our start. A big congrats to Hamza Gulzar for the win in our first race. Hamza will be able to carry the accomplishment of having won our first race at the challenging Imola Circuit. Driving the Mclaren GT3 he would best the field in > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: ams2, Automobilista|

NARS BTCC Final Round Brands Hatch Indy

Race Report by Matthew Overton BTCC Series Finale November 19, 2020 - Another bright and sunny day greeted the drivers and their crews as they returned to Brands Hatch for the culminating round of the CMS NARS BTCC series. With tight battles still to be decided in both the PRO and AM classes, spirits were running high for the last two races of the series on the Indy layout, promising fast, wide-open racing for the fans. Rich Hibbs took top honors in qualifying and it proved to be a race-winning advantage as he led from flag to flag in Race 1. Behind him, Jason Whited, Eduardo Beninca, and a hard-charging Norm Graf battled throughout the race with the four cars separated by less than 4 seconds up to lap 22. For much of the remainder of the field, however, chaos in the opening seconds meant that much of the > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: Brands Hatch, BTCC, rFactor 2, rFactor2|

GTE / GT4 Series at Oulton Park

Race Report by Tim Collier November 18th, 2020 – The third to last round of the GTE/GT4 season has arrived and the series sees a trip to the United Kingdom’s tight and challenging Oulton Park Circuit. After last week’s race cementing current championship leaders’ advantages, time is running out for other championship contenders to upset the current order and overhaul themselves to a higher position. But, with Oulton Park’s tight and challenging layout in combination with the series running GTE and GT4 cars together, one mistake, misjudgment, or an unfortunate turn of luck can be race ending. Qualifying Qualifying pole in the GTE class would be taken by championship leader Justin Hess with an impressive time of 1:23.901 which was .669 of a second faster than second place’s Jason Lundy with a time of 1:24.570. These two cars were certainly in a class of their own in qualifying as > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: iRacing, Oulton Park|

Champion Motorsports iRacing Pro Team Takes Two Podiums at Imola

Race Report and Photos by Evan Wood & David Anderson Let it be known the date was the 14th of November. A new dawn had formed and a new series, the MTEC series from iRacing Majors Series. Both CMS teams waited for the right conditions and put both cars on the front row. As the green flag flew at Imola it was apparent within minutes that patience and awareness would be a key to surviving. CMS team 2 jumped out with the lead as Chris Chmelir consistently put in fast times and built a steady 8 to 10-second lead. The momentum would shift however when a caution came out a few laps before the scheduled pitstop and driver change. Team 2 decided to pit under caution as p2 in class stayed out. CMS Team Overtaking at Imola in Round 1 of MTEC Series Unfortunately, this was the > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: iRacing, Majors|

CMS Season 5 Round 3 – Laguna Seca

Race Report by Mark Dizon November 16, 2020 - Champion Motorsports ACC heads to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA for the third round of season five! It was a warm overcast evening at race start and track conditions were optimal for close GT racing. The evening event commenced just right before sunset and finished 65 minutes later in the dark of night. Split 1 Hamza Gulzar #14 Bentley Continental GT3 sealed another victory at Laguna Seca! Shawn Campbell #98 Porsche 911 GT3 was not far behind and finished 0.779 seconds after Hamza in P2! Dirk Groeneveld #136 Porsche 911 GT3 kept it clean and consistent throughout the race finishing in P3. Jonathan Lee #8 Porsche 911 led the GT3 field from pole position at the start of the race but lost the lead to Hamza Gulzar at the Andretti Hairpin after receiving a bump from Matheus Freitas > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: ACC, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Laguna Seca|

NARS BTCC Round 8 at Snetterton

Race Report and Photo by Matthew Overton November 12, 2020 - At long last, the fabled English weather fulfilled its promise, providing a wet and dreary day for Round 8 of the NARS BTCC championship. Rather than dampening the racing spirit of the 14 drivers that made their way to Norfolk for the races, it inspired some additional sharpening to their racecraft as both races provided for some amazing close-quarter runs. Rich Hibbs proved to be the strongest in qualifying with a magic lap that was fully 2s ahead of his nearest rival, Frank Radosti. The magic had all but disappeared however by the time the first lap was complete with the polesitter dropping to P7. Eduardo Beninca and Colin Moore were the principal beneficiaries of errors in the opening lap that saw Radosti and JT Tami get caught up together with difficulties in the racing conditions. Hibbs continued > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: BTCC, NARS, rFactor 2, rFactor2|

Champion Motorsports Enters iRacing Majors Endurance Team Championship

Race Report by David Anderson Photos by David Anderson November 11th, 2020 - Champion Motorsports is excited to announce our entry into the inaugural iRacing Majors Endurance Team Championship beginning this weekend at Imola in the first of a five round/month Championship series featuring some of the best simracers in the world. The Majors Series will feature three classes of road racing on iconic road courses, featuring Prototype 2, GTE, and GT4 cars. Our team will enter two cars and a total of eight drivers in the championship over the next 5 months. Champion Motorsports BMW GT4 Livery for MTEC Majors Series, courtesy of Mike Tyler Team drivers have been busy preparing for the first race on November 14th at Imola. Our entry for race one will see CMS Endurance Staple Brett Stephens along side Jordan Johnson in car one. Brett, has been a fixture in our > more

Categories: Race Reports|

Season 5, Round 2 – Misano

Race Report by Mark Dizon November 9, 2020 - It was a very challenging second round of multi-class ACC racing at Misano World Circuit with heavy rain conditions during the race weekend. Teams contended with poor visibility and a very wet track while the rain showed no signs of relief. Both races splits saw plenty of drama and action especially during race start in sector 1 Variante Del Parco turns 2 and 3. Split 1 Hamza Gulza displayed a commanding performance at Misano in his #14 Bentley Continental GT3 winning sprints race 1 and 2 as well as securing pole positions in each race. He also achieved the fastest lap of race 2 with a lap time of 1:45.786. Josh Staffin #23 Lexus RC F GT3 secured the second-place podium in race 1 followed by Matheus Freitas #728 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with the third-place finish. Josh Staffin took the fastest > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: ACC, Assetto Corsa Competizione, GT3, Misano|

Round 1 at Nurburgring – FCP Euro GT World Challenge America

Race Report by SRO America Kundakcioglu Wins Opener 44 drivers took the green flag at Nurburgring in Assetto Corsa Competizione Mercedes-AMG earns first victory in GTWC America Esports Competition Cavillon, Porsche brings home the GT4 class win November 8, 2020 - Michael Kundakcioglu led a Mercedes-AMG sweep of the top five positions in the season-opening round of the FCP Euro GT World Challenge America Esports championship at the Nürburgring. Nurburgring winner of Round 1 in GT3 was Michael Kundakcioglu The Canadian started on the outside of the front row and immediately jumped to the lead as polesitter Philippe Simard dropped back in the opening sequence of corners. While the rest of the field fought for position, Kundakcioglu built his lead to around six seconds and managed that gap throughout the duration of the 60-minute race, ultimately crossing the line 3.1150 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer Troy > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: Assetto Corsa Competizione, FCP Euro GT World Challenge America, SRO GT Rivals|

CMS VWSC – WSC Round 9: 1.2 Hours of Sebring

Race Report by George Angelidis Images by Jerry Chen VWSC 1.2 Hours of Sebring – now you rain, now you don’t November 7, 2020 Bykolles Racing clinches LMP2 Championship Bob Roberson becomes the oldest CMS class champion (LMPC) at 82 years old!!! Sansano gets a post-race 2-grid place penalty gifting Marouane el Idrissi first season win Crossing the line at Sebring. Rain HAS ARRIVED! For the first time in the season, we got some rain for VWSC 1.2 Hrs of Sebring, producing some nail-biting racing and a share of randomness due to on the fly strategies… The race was showing early on to be anything but usual with having a shower 5 minutes before qualifying. People that got on track first got the most out of it since, for most, the first lap was their best. Jason Whited and Cameron Sansano were the beneficiaries of this “early > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: rFactor2, Sebring, VWSC|

NARS VWSC 1.2 Hrs of Sebring

Race Report by Matthew Overton Photos by M Overton and J Chen November 5, 2020 - Another clear and warm race day (thanks George!) greeted drivers for the NARS VWSC 1.2 Hrs of Sebring, producing some scintillating racing and more than a fair share of heartbreak. LMP and GTE pole-sitters Ernest Dela Cruz and Jon Uyan delivered strong qualifying laps and led the field cleanly through the opening lap to set the table for an exciting race. On race start, Cameron Sansano battled Dela Cruz for the race lead for much of the first stint, however, an off gave the race leader some much-appreciated breathing room, and then a fuel calculation error ended Sansano’s challenge permanently. From there, Dela Cruz ceded the lead only briefly during the final pitstop, taking the chequered flag for the overall race win. Colin Moore, Jason Whited, and Brian Hall battled throughout the race > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: NARS, Sebring, VWSC|

GTE & GT4 Series at Phillip Island

November 4th, 2020 – The midway point of the season has arrived and a trip down south to the Australian continent precedes as the GT4/GTE series head to the famous circuit of Phillip Island. With both championship leaders pulling a steady lead in their respective championships, would the challenging circuit enable a new order? It certainly looks so. Qualifying pole in the GTE class would be taken by Jason Lundy with a 1:24.647 by a margin of .128 of a second to second place. Alongside him would start Richard Hibbs. Championship leader Justin Hess starting 4th, would this be the break needed to tighten up the championship in either’s favor? Qualifying pole in the GT4 class would be taken Drew Lidkea with a time of 1:37.459 which would be .096 of a second clear to second place. Brett Stephens would line up second, championship leader Kurt Polter in third. > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: iRacing, Phillip Island|

VWSC 60 Minutes of Laguna Seca

Race Report by George Angelidis Images by Jerry Chen October 24, 2020 - 29 drivers (11 LMP and 18 GTE) took the green flag at another hot Laguna Seca race. While the track is one of the toughest to facilitate multiclass racing, the overall field behaved relatively well. LMP2 In LMP2, newcomer Wouter de Bruijn had a colossal fight all the way to the checkered flag with Colin Moore, overcoming him and getting his first win in hist first race. In third, was Brian Hall equaling his best-ever finish capitalizing at a recovering Streppone and an absent Jason Whited due to restrictions prohibiting him entering the track… ByKolles Racing now extends the lead leaving very small chances for SimHQ Motorsports to catch up. LMPC LMPC honors went to also newcomer Johnny Humes beating his opponents by laps as they encountered problems. Bob Roberson managed to outscore rival Tom Mountjoy > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: rFactor 2, VWSC|

NARS VWSC Laguna Seca

Race Report by Matthew Overton October 22, 2020 - The Weathertech Laguna Seca is always an exciting track with drivers constantly busy in their own races and then with the challenges presented by multi-class racing on a tight track. The warm and dry weather did not add to the difficulties of the day, but this did not mean that this race did not have its dramas, all of which contributed to some interesting developments in the series standings. In total, 21 drivers (8 LMP and 13 GTE) took the green, though only 15 finished the race to see the chequered flag. Some aggressive racing, occasional driver error, and some unexpected difficulties in the pit lane all contributed to dashing the hopes of several championship contenders. None of these difficulties affected JT Tami however, as he powered his way to yet another LMP2 and overall race win, outlasting polesitter Cameron > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: Laguna Seca, NARS, rFactor 2, VWSC|

NARS BTCC Croft

Race Report by Matthew Overton October 15, 2020 - It was a surprisingly dry ‘weekend’ at Croft for the 7th stop on the NARS BTCC series. Race 1 featured a strong battle between Eduardo Beninca and Rich Hibbs, with Hibbs overtaking the polesitter on Lap 8 and never looking back. One lap later, Jon Uyan lost 3rd to a charging George Angelidis, who held onto the final podium spot against a strong challenge by Colin Moore. For the AM class, Frank Radosti grabbed top spot followed by Guiherme Bencke and Matthew Overton. Race 2 featured the ‘best’ of BTCC racing with incidents devastating the top end of the grid even before T1. The chaos played straight into the hands of R1 winner, who by the end of lap 1 was already P5. Benefitting from a consistent pace and some errors by those ahead of him, at the chequered flag > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: BTCC, Croft, NARS, rFactor2|

NARS VWSC Petit LeMans

Race Report by Matthew Overton October 8, 2020 - While the forecast threatened menacingly, fortune smiled, or at least hold off the rain, for Round 6 of the NARS VWSC Series, back at Road Atlanta. The race itself however was not so kind, with almost all the drivers having difficulties despite the clear weather. This, combined with LMPC and GTE AM leaders Matthew Overton and Don Fryman failing to grid, has made for some dramatic changes in the championship standings. In LMP2, JT Tami took a P3 start on the grid to patiently track down Jason Whited, passing him mid-race and then leading 46 of 47 last laps of the race for his third win of the season. Norm Graf rounded out the podium in an LMP2 field that straggled through the final standings. LMPC looked to be a close competition between Tom Aitken and Bob Robertson until a > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: NARS, Petit LeMans, rFactor2, VWSC|

NARS Special Event – GP3 at Macau

Race Report by Matthew Overton September 24, 2020 - Taking a break from the BTCC and VWSC schedules, 15 NARS drivers challenged themselves at the punishing Macau Guia circuit and the race did not fail to deliver excitement. With Sahil Mustac dominating both the qualification and race itself for his maiden win at CMS, there was tight racing to be found down the order. Jason Whited managed to keep himself ahead of squabbling midfield, with JT Tami, Jerry Chen, Jon Uyan, Brian Hall, and Ross Smith fighting over third to seventh for much of the race. While over half the field fell victim to the unforgiving nature of the track, all drivers were expressing their enjoyment of the race come the checkered flag. Race Results Photo credit: Jerry Chen

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: Formula 3, NARS, rFactor2|

VWSC 2.4 Hours of Le Mans

Feature by George Angelidis September 12, 2020 - Le Mans holds a special place in our hearts. More than any other race, it's a crucible in which new technology is forged, a technology that's directly relevant to the cars you or I drive on the road. And for 2 hours and 20 minutes (out of a 2h:24min race), this year's race belonged to Marco Antonio Rodriguez, which put on a fine show with his Oreca LMP2 race car. But racing can be a cruel, cruel sport and this year’s edition was crueler than most. Rodriguez lost his lead in a necessary “splash & dash” to make it to the end handing the win to Jason Whited. In GTE-Pro, it was smooth sailing for Yassin Marzoug while the other GTEs were facing problems. LMP2 In LMP2 class Jason Whited after the late pit stop by Marco Antonio Rodriguez was handed > more

Categories: Feature, Race Reports|Tags: Le Mans, rFactor 2, rFactor2|

ACC Monday Kicks Off GT4 Series

Race Report by Drake Burgoon Night Racing Kickoff September 7, 2020 - Monday saw the first round of the much anticipated CMS Assetto Corsa Competizione GT4 Series, and it did not disappoint. The race was a 60-minute race at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit and featured 1 mandatory stop for fuel with tires being optional. Due to the overwhelming attendance, the event was split into two servers with split 1 being all Pro classification and split 2 being Silver and AM. With qualifying being pretty standard conditions but knowing a nighttime race is coming the big question mark was how would the pace be during the night. Split 1 Race Heading into the event it was pretty well established that Jon Leigh in the Ginetta was the favorite to post the quickest time and he did not disappoint. Posting a 1:50.298 in the #7 Ginetta, .075 quicker than Tomas Lastre > more

Categories: Race Reports|Tags: ACC, Assetto Corsa Competizione, GT4, Kyalami|